Dusky Grouse

Hi Doug, welcome to NPN. I like the pose you got, and the intricate plumage of the bird. on the whole, I like the setting and find it just right for my experience with the species, but I would consider carefully cloning out the grass stem that crosses the bill down to somewhere below the bill. As for the sharpening, I might try a little more selective sharpening on just the head and neck (using smart objects and masks to mask out everything else). I think that you could go a little looser on the composition if you've cropped this, as it feels just a little tight to me.

This species was a nemesis for me for a long time, so it is always nice to see. I'll look forward to seeing more of your work here in Avian, and be sure to comment on others' photos, as you'll end up learning even more from that.

Welcome to npn, Doug. I really like this image. You have great eye contact and the colors and habitat are very nice. I, too, find the grass in front of the the bill distracting and would add more room all around if you have it.

Welcome to NPN Doug! I like this image a lot. I think with the grassy foreground setting the tight crop works well. I could see adding a little more selective sharpening to the face of the grouse. To my knowledge Dusky Grouse don't get together in numbers and display on a lek but do so individually, good luck catching one displaying. Your larger image looks to be the same size as your smaller one. The larger image can be up to 1200 pixels on the long side. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work.